Table Talk With The Mighty

From the good to the downright please-don’t-do-it-again, this episode of Table Talk dives into health representation across books, TV shows, movies, and video games. Ashley, Skye, and Kat share their somewhat surprising recommendations (where you at, “Bluey” fans?) across genres and dissect what exactly makes something an incredible win for specific health communities. And yes, in case you’re worried, don’t fret — they do indeed share their opinions on the wide, problematic universe of medical dramas.

We know, we know… for a health community, we’re making a pretty bold statement in this episode. But hear us out. This Mighty conversation between Kat, Shruti, Harrison, and Skye explores what exactly invisible illnesses are, which ones they live with — from EDS to POTS to migraine to misophonia to C-PTSD — and why, if people only paid attention, there are always visible signs that someone has an underlying condition. Whether others choose to believe it or not is another episode for another day. Come for the hot take, stay for the reminder that at the end of the day, your perception and experiences matter most.

If the “bipolar weather” makes you want to “yeet yourself into the abyss,” this conversation about stigmatizing health language is for you. In this episode of Table Talk, Skye, Ashley, and Melissa examine their relationships with stigmatizing language — questioning the thin line between coping through humor and coming off as insensitive toward others’ lived experiences. They also share their advice for approaching potentially harmful language, especially as it becomes more common in our vernacular. The bottom line? Say what you mean, and give grace to others.

There’s a joke somewhere about four neurodivergent people walking into a recording booth and attempting to focus on the topic at hand. In this episode, Ashley is joined by Camara, Jess, and Skye as they dive into the wide spectrum of neurodiversity, imposter syndrome in relation to identifying as neurodivergent, and how neurodivergence can often be misunderstood by the people who are meant to be the most helpful in supporting those individuals — namely doctors and educators. Additionally, find out how stacking diagnoses can feel like Pokémon evolutions (and of course, stick around to hear our favorite ones!).

Living with a health condition is expensive — and not always in the ways we think. In this important discussion led by Skye, Harrison and Shruti join and deliver some mic drops of their own. From hypomanic spending to pain-fueled shopping sprees to funding sensory sensitivities, the trio explore the tangible and emotional costs of health and disability. They suggest some tips and tools for managing and tracking your expenses, all while sifting through the following conundrum: What do you do when you need a job to pay for insurance and medical bills, but aren’t well enough to work? They don’t promise to have the answers, but they sure do deliver on the “ugh, ditto” factor.

Grief is one of the most common traumas that we all experience, and yet it looks so different for each of us. In this episode, Kat is joined by Shruti and Anthony to discuss loss of all shapes and sizes — of people, of experiences, of “what ifs” — and how it’s affected their lives. We’re asking the tough questions: Who owns collective grief? Whose grief matters most? What two-word phrase actually helps in those tough moments? (And to you, the person who is grieving, we see you. We hope you’ll find comfort in this conversation.)

Suicide prevention starts with saying the word out loud, and in this episode of Table Talk, Skye, Shruti, and Ashley do just that. The trio vulnerably dig into their own experiences with passive and active suicidality (like how depression can affect your memory). Learn more about what it’s like to live with thoughts of dying buzzing in your brain’s background as well as what to do when the thoughts get especially loud. And in case you needed to hear it today, thinking about suicide doesn’t make you a bad or weak human — your life has meaning and you are worthy of help.

If you or a loved one needs support you can contact:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741-741

Bubbles? Gum? Tea? Essential oils? In this episode, Ashley, Camara, and Skye play a riveting round of “yes/no/meh/hard pass” when it comes to self-soothing techniques. Learn more about this DBT skill, what exactly “urge surfing” is, and try out Camara’s secret question that seemingly helps both hiccups and panic attacks. (Hint: It involves horses!)

Wellness is a societal construct. There. We said it. In this episode, Shruti, Kat, and Skye explore their personal definitions of what it means to be “well,” how chronic conditions play into their perspectives, and why wellness culture has become a toxic beast that cannot be tamed. And for all you optimists out there, listen as Shruti gently breaks Kat and Skye’s brains with her reframing of wellness and how to find joy and peace in very unwell moments. (See? We’re all about balance!)

Do you find planners overwhelming, helpful, or “meh”? In this episode, Ashley, Camara, Skye, and Jess dive into the all-or-nothing thinking that can accompany using planners. They share their best intentions, their fears of (not) following through, the pandemic’s impact on their usage of planners, as well as the features they — as well as our Mighty community — look for. Plus, find out which spicy event Skye scheduled in her planner once!

In honor of Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, five Mighty staffers who live with migraine — Kat, Skye, Alexandria, Anjana, and Jess — trade their top tips for managing the disease (TL;DR: don’t be a jerk to yourself!) as well as how they get their self-care on post-flare. Will there be a discussion about fries? We’re only human.

Gather ’round people-pleasers. Camara, Carla, Skye, and Kat do a little self-reflection on whether people-pleasing is a harmful or helpful personality trait. (Spoiler alert: It can actually be both!) Learn more about how our health causes us to overcompensate, and how we’re doing the #InnerWork to separate the inherent selfishness and selflessness of this behavior.

Calling all therapy meme lovers! In this episode, Camara, Skye, and Kat explore the highs and lows of using humor as a coping mechanism. From healing to harmful, tune in to find out when funny becomes… not so funny for people who live with health conditions.

In a society that’s wired for productivity, it’s impossible to avoid the dreaded question, “BuT wHaT dO yOu DoOoOo?” In this week’s episode, Skye, Ashley, and Kat take a funemployment deep dive into why health conditions complicate that question and what we’d like our mother’s favorite cousin to ask instead.

“What’s something you often fake?” Kat asked our Mighty community and chatted about the responses — and our personal experiences with faking it — alongside Ashley and Skye in this week’s episode. TL;DR: From laughter to pain levels to emotional responses, we’re pretty much faking it all!

Clean your house, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. This week Kat, Skye, Ashley, and Carla buck the outdated — and frankly, ableist — concept of cleaning at a regular cadence. Tune in to learn how simple hacks like “don’t put it down, put it away” help them accommodate their various health conditions and disabilities.

What color hair do we each have right now? In this episode, Camara, Ashley, Skye, and Kat share their tips and feels about external shine when you’re feeling quite the opposite on the inside. (And shocking to absolutely no one, we each have different opinions about it!)

Stress and anxiety have a lot in common (first of all, they suck) — but identifying which is both a good practice and a constant struggle. Skye, Kat, Camara, and Ashley chat about where in their bodies they hold each, and what’s really making them #AnxiousAndStressedAF right now.

A hard truth when you live with a mental or physical health condition is that not every friendship is going to last forever. In this episode, Kat, Ashley, and Camara dig into friend break-ups, boundaries, and a reminder that we’re all worthy of feel-good friend love no matter our diagnoses.

From DIY to “thanks, but no thanks,” Skye, Carla, and Kat dive into their personal experiences with physical and vestibular therapy. Get the validation and encouragement you need to graduate, stick with the plan, or take matters into your own hands.

Jess, Skye, and Ashley say "hello" to the new year, and "buh-bye" to the aspirational content circulating social media telling us the "best way to live your life" by finding healthier ways to interact with it.

Too anxious to rest? Love a good panic attack in the middle of the night? Ashley, Camara, Skye, and Kat talk about how their individual sleep patterns play a role in their mental and physical health and share their personal tips and tricks for falling (and staying) asleep.

Ah yes, cuffing season! In this episode, Jess, Ashley, and Kat give Skye advice about how they cultivate and maintain a sense of self-worth in (or after) a relationship, especially when one or both partners live with chronic illness.

Inspired by Mighty alum Jordan Davidson’s new book, “So When Are You Having Kids?”, Kat, Jess, Ashley, and Camara share some of the health-related reasons why asking someone if they’re having biological children is none of your business.

Ashley, Camara, and Skye talk about their experiences with panic attacks. What it feels like, how they cope, and why dogs are truly humanity’s best friend.

Skye, Kat, and Ashley talk about isolation, loneliness, and FOMO – all of which can be especially loud during the holidays.

Each week on Table Talk, Mighty staffers dive into their experiences with mental health, rare disease, migraine, chronic illness, and more to remind you (and each other) how powerful sharing our stories can be.